Creative Internships Blog Week 44

Alex Roberts, National Theatre Wales & Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

I remember applying for the A&B Cymru Creative Internships Programme. I was fresh out of university, trying to work out what do with my life and how to use my degree when I realised that arts fundraising could be the perfect career for me. Who’d have thought that just a few years later I’d have completed placements at three National organisations, met so many amazing people and learned so much about fundraising and myself. I’m so grateful to have had these opportunities, and to have been placed within such amazing organisations that have prepared me for the next stage in my career. These placements have given me the skills to develop a career in fundraising, and the opportunity to learn from some of the best development teams and arts organisations in Cardiff.

Over the past 11 months at NTW I have not only learnt about fundraising, I’ve become more confident in my abilities and more certain in knowing where I want my career to go. Working with such a supportive and creative company like NTW has really allowed me to take a step back and see why I want to be in this line of work. Going in to arts fundraising, my aim was to help artists and arts organisations go further with their work, and to contribute to the arts sector in Wales. I am glad to say that my placements have got me on the path to reach these goals and I feel incredibly lucky to have been an A&B Cymru Creative Intern!

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So I can hardly believe that this is my final week at RWCMD, 11 months has just flown by! When starting with RWCMD and NTW, I don’t think I appreciated quite how much the two placements could complement each other to create a balanced and well-rounded experience. The projects and tasks I’ve undertaken here have allowed me to become more confident in my abilities, and strengthen my skills whilst continuing to learn within a supportive team.

Working with the team here at RWCMD has been such a valuable experience, and the skills they’ve helped me develop, through working on events, corporate research, and trusts and foundations, will definitely help me in future roles. It has been such a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of fundraising within higher education and how the students can benefit in the long term through having such a strong support network so early on in their careers.

I’ve been incredibly lucky to have worked with the team here, and I’ll be sad to leave this week, but I’m also hugely excited for what comes next and to take the next steps in my fundraising career! I also want to say a huge thank you A&B Cymru and everyone who has supported the Creative Internships Programme! It really has been a great experience and I’m so grateful to have been given this opportunity.